tikka.223 Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Going to treat myself to a new rifle for deer,I've narrowed it down to the following calibres but would like a little input from those that have the calibres in question. Calibre 1. .270 2. .308 3. .243 Now after talking to a firearms dealer today he recomended applying for either a .303,.30-06 or .300 mag.So if I wasnt a little confused before talking to him I am now Any advice welcome TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 First of all - ignore what the dealer said - he probably has all three in stock and wants to shift them! It depends on what you intend to shoot really, if you want to use it for foxing as well then perhaps the .243, but if it's an exclusive Deer gun the .308 will be your best bet. Have you considered the 6.5x55 just to throw another option into the mix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveford1 Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Going to treat myself to a new rifle for deer,I've narrowed it down to the following calibres but would like a little input from those that have the calibres in question. Calibre 1. .270 2. .308 3. .243 Now after talking to a firearms dealer today he recomended applying for either a .303,.30-06 or .300 mag.So if I wasnt a little confused before talking to him I am now Any advice welcome TIA .308 every time 150g bullet will cover all deer with very little meat damage plenty ammo anywhere of the shelf hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikka.223 Posted January 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 First of all - ignore what the dealer said - he probably has all three in stock and wants to shift them! It depends on what you intend to shoot really, if you want to use it for foxing as well then perhaps the .243, but if it's an exclusive Deer gun the .308 will be your best bet. Have you considered the 6.5x55 just to throw another option into the mix? Dealer doesnt have any instock so he's no need to push them so regarded his advice as being neutral(unless the suppliers have good offers at the minute). I considered the 6.5x55 but have ruled it out. The rifle will be an exclusive deer only rifle,the PSNI wont allow a .243 for fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) 6.5x55 Deer and fox. Very accurate. Mild round. if i was just going deer..... i would be looking a 7x57. Nice tidy round packing one hell of a punch, the examples i have seen can be a bit "barky" but then if youd be prepared to put up with a mule of a .270 im sure youd be fine. Edited January 4, 2012 by Beretta28g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 The .300 win mag is a evil bit of kit. And from the evidence i hve seen will obilterate most targets in its way. You would certainly not want to use it on anything smaller than a Roe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vipa Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 6.5x55 is my main deer rifle... supremely accurate, very, very capable, modest recoil... factory ammo may be a little scarce but I reload. Guess you don't have that option in NI. Other option would be a .308, certainly no problem getting ammunition but maybe a bit much for munties... would kill 'em though! 300WM is a moose round, no need in the UK, same with 30-06 and .303 is an antique. .243, whilst capable is a bit puny if you ever get a chance on Sika's or Reds.. 6.5 or .308 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 This has been done many times, there is some history if you can find it, probably last about 6 pages before the personal insults get it locked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Going to treat myself to a new rifle for deer,I've narrowed it down to the following calibres but would like a little input from those that have the calibres in question. Calibre 1. .270 2. .308 3. .243 Now after talking to a firearms dealer today he recomended applying for either a .303,.30-06 or .300 mag.So if I wasnt a little confused before talking to him I am now Any advice welcome TIA Has your dealer any deer knowledge at all, or does he just have a .303,.30-06 or .300 mag in stock? What Deer, or all Deer, Pest Control, Stalking, Paid Stalks, landscape, distances, what experience do you have, etc., etc? I have .243 and .308, more have fallen to my .243 than my .308, others will argue and say the .243 isn't up to it. Poachers on the whole don't seem to have much of a problem with .22lr! :o :o :o :o Like I say, maybe 6 pages before the topic gets locked! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vipa Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Has your dealer any deer knowledge at all, or does he just have a .303,.30-06 or .300 mag in stock? What Deer, or all Deer, Pest Control, Stalking, Paid Stalks, landscape, distances, what experience do you have, etc., etc? I have .243 and .308, more have fallen to my .243 than my .308, others will argue and say the .243 isn't up to it. Poachers on the whole don't seem to have much of a problem with .22lr! :o :o :o :o Like I say, maybe 6 pages before the topic gets locked! ATB! BUT...... bear in mind that some estates in Scotland won't let you use a .243... possibly not an issue to the OP but worth bearing in mind.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastiebap Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Dealer doesnt have any instock so he's no need to push them so regarded his advice as being neutral(unless the suppliers have good offers at the minute). I considered the 6.5x55 but have ruled it out. The rifle will be an exclusive deer only rifle,the PSNI wont allow a .243 for fox. A good friend of mine uses the 6.5x55 and has had tonnes of success with it. He had considered the .308, but after getting a go with both calibres, he found the 6.5x55 more to his liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 A good friend of mine uses the 6.5x55 and has had tonnes of success with it. He had considered the .308, but after getting a go with both calibres, he found the 6.5x55 more to his liking. same story with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie g Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 270 can be had cheap as chips. will do everything you ask of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saggy61 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I would go with either the .243 or as said before the 7x57mm, we use both at work and i prefer the 243 but the 7x57mm is one i would use if it was only deer i was after as it is one heck of a round and a solid rifel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGEvans Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 All the calibres are valid buddy. I personally shoot a .308. Readily available ammo, will do all deer and boar also if need be. Just scale the grain of the ammo up and down a bit depending on the species of deer. I want a 30-06 and a 7x57 but want is different to need!!!! Good luck. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 308 would be my choice, even though i've got a swede, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mereside Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 hi mate i have two 270 and a 300 win i love my 270 i have a bsa stutzen with set triggers and a parker and hale which was my first stalking rifle i love the round very flat shooting and will knock anything down thats in front of it like all other calibres i think its whats comes down to personel choice really i chose this round when i started out as i wanted one rifle to do everything including boar and tahr which a 243 wont also if you ever travel abroad it isnt military so you arent restricted to where you can take it atb,wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 .270 if you re-load, .308 if you don't. Personally I use .243 for everything from red stags to fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Out of your three choices the .270 and the .308 get the nod from me Good luck. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mallet Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 I agree with above .270 if your home loading. I moved from .243 to .270 once I started loading my own. I can't fault my .270 people say they kick like a mule but to be honest I can't say I notice. Everyone has there own personal preference if you can try and shot some of the other calibres if you know someone who has any of them then that would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.